What impact did the Fenian Raids have on Canadian Confederation?

What impact did the Fenian Raids have on Canadian Confederation?

• A. They discouraged the idea of union
• B. They strengthened the call for a united defense
• C. They halted plans for railway construction
• D. They reduced tensions with Britain

Answer: (B)

The Fenian Raids significantly bolstered the call for Canadian Confederation because they highlighted the need for a more unified defense among the provinces. The Fenians, an Irish nationalist group, conducted raids into Canada in the 1860s, aiming to pressure Britain to withdraw from Ireland. These incursions exposed vulnerabilities in Canada's security and the inadequacy of provincial defenses, demonstrating that individual provinces could not effectively withstand external threats alone. As a result, leaders recognized that a united Canada would be better positioned to defend itself against such invasions. This realization played a crucial role in promoting discussions around Confederation. The potential for a collective defense mechanism became a persuasive argument for forming a single, more robust political entity, ultimately influencing the decision to unite the provinces into the Dominion of Canada in 1867.

The Fenian Raids significantly bolstered the call for Canadian Confederation because they highlighted the need for a more unified defense among the provinces. The Fenians, an Irish nationalist group, conducted raids into Canada in the 1860s, aiming to pressure Britain to withdraw from Ireland. These incursions exposed vulnerabilities in Canada's security and the inadequacy of provincial defenses, demonstrating that individual provinces could not effectively withstand external threats alone.

As a result, leaders recognized that a united Canada would be better positioned to defend itself against such invasions. This realization played a crucial role in promoting discussions around Confederation. The potential for a collective defense mechanism became a persuasive argument for forming a single, more robust political entity, ultimately influencing the decision to unite the provinces into the Dominion of Canada in 1867.